The Robert Koch Institute (RKI): main building in Berlin. more
Germany’s Public Health institute RKI monitors the population’s health and wellbeing. more
The Robert Koch Institute is the German government's central institution for the identification, surveillance and prevention of infectious diseases in the Portfolio of the German Ministry of Health. more
Reference percentiles and representative epidemiological data for children and adolescents in Germany
Contact person: Dr. Hannelore Neuhauser
With the data from the KiGGS study, representative data on blood pressure in children and adolescents in Germany is available for the first time. Based on this data, reference percentiles were calculated. In addition, statements on the prevalence and determinants of high blood pressure in children and adolescents can be made.
Based on a reference population of normal-weight participants in the KiGGS study, reference values for blood pressure differentiated according to age, sex and height in Germany were published, as required in the guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension. Improved statistical procedures are used in the creation of blood pressure reference values which, together with certain sample and measuring aspects, represent an improvement as compared to current US blood pressure references.
Ongoing projects deal with the association between high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors in children and adults. Data on genetic predisposition due to hypertension or cardiovascular disease in parents is currently being acquired in the context of "KiGGS Wave 1". In future, the KiGGS participants will be subject to follow-up examinations to allow analysis of the persistence and consequences of high blood pressure.
Duration / status: ongoing
Data source: KiGGS
Project type: Research project
Date: 13.10.2014
